The ultimate guide to surviving your multi-generational holiday

You've decided to invite grandma and grandpa along for the ride (and to help with the kids) so all you need to do is incorporate their suggestions alongside your own and then make sure that they are all child friendly. A piece of cake, right?

Well, sometimes it's not as easy as we'd hoped. Taking the whole family away together is a lovely opportunity to bond, have fun and create memories but trying to factor in the needs of multiple generations can take time, patience and a huge amount of forward planning.

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So, here are five ways to make sure you survive (and have fun on) your extended family holiday.

1. Take time out

Having fun with the family is great but don't underestimate time spent by yourself each day. Even if it's just half an hour in the morning or, if the children are young, during nap time, it will help to have a breather. The term 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' was made for large family holidays – give each other some space so you really appreciate the time you do spend together.

2. Set a safe word

This is a great way to alleviate tension and stop a situation escalating by injecting some (useful) humour into the situation. Choose one word, or a phrase, and make it as funny or as silly as you can. Then, whenever an argument or disagreement is about to really kick off, any member of the family can shout out the safe word and prevent the entire clan reaching breaking point. Shouting out a ridiculous word may sound juvenile but it breaks the tension and gets people laughing – it's a great way to shout 'stop' without feeling your nagging everyone.

GettyEcho

3. Equality for all

Everyone should get to do something they enjoy on holiday. To make it fair and fun you could get everyone to put their suggestion for an activity in a hat and then choose one each day – no one can argue because it's fair! If hat pulling doesn't work on your specific holiday then sit down together as a family to discuss what people want to do and work it all out before you go. Know what you have time for and manage expectations so that no one ends up disappointed.

4. Divide and conquer

The great thing about a multi-generational holiday is that it means you can still spend time as a couple. Arrange times when grandparents take the children out, or look after them at the hotel/house, for a few hours and leave you to spend some time together. Then you can do the same for your parents, or parents in-law. It's a nice way for each couple to spend some quality bonding time with the youngsters.

GettyRobert Daly

5. Set boundaries

To make point number four work it's important that you take note of point number five – taking your parents on holiday doesn't mean they are the automatic babysitters. Setting boundaries before you go away is a good way to make sure that everyone knows what is and isn't okay during the holiday – if you want to have alone time with your partner, check that it's going to be alright. It's also good to set boundaries for the kids before you go – explain that everyone wants to have a good time and that sometimes the grandparents will need to rest and have quiet time.

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